Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, starts at sundown on Monday. It is a religious holiday in nature, but like most Jewish holidays (and holidays in other traditions), it’s steeped in routine and symbolism related to the environment, spiritual nourishment, and food. All the more reason celebrate!

No matter what your background, there are simple, inexpensive aspects of Rosh Hashanah to participate in that kids love and that can contribute to a conversational about pluralism, community, and more.

• One very popular observance is eating apples dipped in honey to symbolize a sweet new year. With the preponderance of apples available at this time of year, it’s a great time to go picking at a local orchard or to score some cheap at the farmer’s market. (In fact, a lot of popular dishes for this holiday are farmer’s market friendly… grab some carrots and sweet potatoes for your tzimmes, too!)
• On Tuesday afternoon, many will also head down to a river or other flowing body of water for the Tashlikh, or casting off. By emptying our pockets, stuffed for the occasion with stale breadcrumbs, it symbolically casts off our spiritual baggage welcomes the new year. All the better if we feed some ducks, too!

If nothing else, you can wish your Jewish friends “L’shana Tova,” your wishes for them to have a good year!